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Pharmaceutical environmental impacts have been increasing in recent years. To reduce the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals, an environmental rating system for pharmaceuticals has been introduced in Sweden. We have in this case, studied how, and to what extent, environmental classification of drugs is used to reduce the drugs impact on the environment. This has been done by considering the environmental classification as a form of political instrument and trying to identify the responsibility roles within the environmental classification. Since the responsibility roles within the environmental classification can be described as slightly unclear and no evaluation is made, it is difficult to estimate the efficiency of the environmental classification. By contrast, the environmental classification may enlighten the problem of pharmaceuticals in the environment. The creators of the environmental classification is hoping for an expansion of the system to more sectors of the society. If this leads to more environmental actions, the environmental classification as an informative tool, probably can bring changes in behavior that lead to reduced environmental impact of pharmaceuticals.